Major Matina Jewell
(Retired) CSP
Life-changing perspective from the front line of leadership, resilience and change.
Major Matina Jewell
(Retired) CSP
Life-changing perspective from the front line of leadership, resilience and change.
Bio
Major Matina Jewell (Retired) CSP is an inspirational trailblazer, helping leaders build resilient teams to thrive through change.
Named in the ‘AFR 100 Women of Influence 2018’, Matina is also a Telstra Business Awards Finalist and was named a CPA Australia ‘Top-10 Smart Thinker’.
Among her honorary roles, Matina is a founding ambassador for Project Thankful, a movement partnered with the United Nations to help empower women and children globally.
A bark portrait painting of Matina was entered for the 2019 Archibald Prize, and her incredible life story has been optioned for a global feature film.
Military Trailblazer & Peacekeeper
Major Matina Jewell (Retired) CSP grew up in the hinterland of Byron Bay and joined the Army at age 17. During her 15-year military career, Matina:
- Served on five missions and earned nine war medals
- Became the only Australian to receive two Republic of Lebanon war medals for acts of bravery on the battlefield and wounded in combat
- Was appointed Officer in Command of the Army Department and Diving Officer for HMAS Kanimbla, then Australia’s largest Navy ship, at only 23 years old
- Was the first woman in the Australian Army to complete the physically demanding "Navy Ship's Diver" course
- Worked with the elite SAS and American Navy SEALS
- Tracked down militia leaders in the Solomon Islands
- Fast-roped from helicopters
- Boarded smuggler ships in the Arabian Gulf
- Trained in three languages (Bahasa Indonesian, Arabic and English)
- Gained her Masters in Project Management
- Served as a Peacekeeper with the United Nations in Syria and Lebanon
Advisor & Ambassador
Since being medically retired, Matina has campaigned for change for veterans and others in need through numerous honorary, ambassador and advisory roles, including:
- Prime Ministerial Advisory Council
- National Mental Health Forum
- ANZAC Centenary Commission, alongside former Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Malcolm Fraser
- National Suicide Prevention Commission
- Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project as Ambassador
- Project Thankful as Ambassador
Change Champion
- 2019 – Archibald Prize Bark Portrait Entrant
- 2018 – AFR 100 Women of Influence
- 2017 – Awarded Certified Speaking Professional (International)
- 2016 – Telstra Women's Business Awards Finalist
- 2015 – A CPA Australia 'Top-10 Smart Thinker'
- Her story featured in a high rating, two-part ABC Australian Story and was syndicated globally with FOXTEL's I Survived
- Her memoir, Caught in the Crossfire (Allen & Unwin) a best-seller
Matina is a proud mum to busy young girls and lives on the Far North Coast of NSW.
Australian War Memorial
Matina's In-Their-Words contribution, now part of a permanent exhibition at the Australian War Memorial (4.24s)
ABC Australian Story Documentary
The Blue Beret – Parts I & II
(52:30s)
Foxtel Documentary
Foxtel ‘I Survived’ Documentary
(15:33s)
Partnerships
Matina is honoured to be a Brand Ambassador for TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES (TFS) who have supported millions of Australians in financing and protecting their vehicles.
Matina and TFS are aligned in their passion and duty for serving the communities they work and live in.
As a UN Peacekeeper in the Middle East, Matina patrolled ‘The Blue Line’ for many months in her TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO.
And Matina is just as appreciative of the safety and comfort of TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO doing the school drop-off and pick-ups today.
With aligned values of respect, passion, quality, innovation, and collaboration, Matina Jewell is proud to be associated with the HOGO BOSS brand.
With sustainability and success inextricably linked, HUGO BOSS has long been Matina’s first choice as the most accessible, fashionable and innovative wardrobe. “HUGO BOSS offers high quality and comfort every time – whether I’m heading to a keynote speech from a long haul flight, or to a coffee meeting from school pick up”.
Quality, innovation, and responsibility form the foundation of HUGO BOSS sustainability strategy, and focus efforts on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
Matina was named in the
‘AFR 100 Women of Influence 2018′.
View Website
Awards
AFR 100 Women of Influence Awards
Finalist 2018
AFR 100 Women of Influence Awards Finalist 2018
Professional Speakers Australia
Certified Speaking Professional 2017
Professional Speakers Australia Certified Speaking Professional 2017
Telstra Business Women’s Awards
Finalist 2016
Telstra Business Women’s Awards Finalist 2016
CPA Australia ‘Top 10 Smart Thinker’
who shaped 2015
CPA Australia 'Top 10 Thinker' 2015
Honorary roles
Project Thankful
Ambassador
Project Thankful Founding Ambassador
Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project Ambassador
Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project Ambassador
ANZAC Centenary
Commissioner
ANZAC Spirit - ANZAC Centenary Commissioner
AWM Redevelopment
'In Their Words' Contributor
AWM Redevelopment 'In Their Words' Contributor
Recent Activity
Today marks 104 years since the Armistice that ended the First World War on 11 November 1918.
Take a moment to pause & reflect on the service & sacrifice of our service men & women who died or suffered in all wars and on peacekeeping & humanitarian operations.
#remembranceday
Today I had the privilege of delivering the opening keynote to over 600 members from the Insurance Industry on the last day of the @InsAdvisernet conference on the Gold Coast. Great to be the warm up act today for the always fabulous @mattchurch & hilarious comedian @DHughesy
This week’s inspirational post comes from an unknown source but is a great reminder for leaders across all industries of the values required to be successful.
My only tweak on this quote is that for me honesty is not just ‘appreciated’ but is a fundamental value required.
#trust
The age profile of veterans in Australia clearly reflects the historic involvement in wars and conflicts overseas. Mini-peak in the 90s reflects WWII, peak in the 80s the Korean War, and the peak in the 70s the Vietnam War. Full column (no pay wall): https://t.co/PtNTU0fCPL
Brilliant to be back in my home studio to deliver my favourite format of presentations – that being a 60 minute keynote followed by a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A with over 900 leaders from @danmurphys stores across the country.
#matinajewell #danmurphys #beverageindustry
Delighted to give the opening keynote to kick off the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) conference on the Gold Coast today
In line with the conference theme of #AFAthrive2022 I shared my battlefield experiences of how powerful perspective is in terms of building resilience
I love the opportunity to further connect with people through a book signing.
A huge thank you to photographer James O’Gorman @jogmedia for these fabulous behind them scenes shots at the @lindisfarnegrammar business breakfast.
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#matinajewell #caughtinthecrossfirebook #memoir
A few more photos from my keynote at the Lindisfarne Grammar School Business Breakfast last week thanks to awesome photographer James O’Gorman from Jogmedia.
Photo credit @jogmedia
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#matinajewell #lindisfarneschool #kingscliffcommunity #leadershipinaction #crisisleadership
It was a privilege to share my experiences @RCSA_official this week
@MatinaJewell closing keynote at @RCSA_official 2022 conference. Room of recruiters completely silent hearing Matina’s incredible story from the front line of war.
I was humbled to deliver the closing keynote yesterday after 3 days of incredible sessions from brilliant speakers & facilitators @RCSA_official #Shape2022 conference in Hobart industry.
#matinajewell #RCSA #recruitment #recruitmentindustry #keynotespeaker #leadershipinaction
I admire people who are really clear on their purpose.
I know that when I am living purposefully, I feel more meaning in everything I do.
And when I take action around my purpose, I feel fulfilled.
I call this ‘dutiful’; the duty we have to ourselves to live life on purpose.
purposeful + meaningful + actionable = fulfilment
It feels beautiful to live dutiful.
